Refrigerated shipping container



July 27, 1943. F. CLERC 2,325,371

REFRIGERATED SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Aug. 25, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 1. m

Q INVENTOR.

Leonard F. C [a re tor-neg July 27, 1943. 1.. F. CLERC 2,325,371

REFRIGERATED SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Aug. 23, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR.

BY Leonard I. Chirp zmm Homwg y 1943- L. F. CLERC 2,325,371

REFRIGERATED SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Aug. zs. 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet -3 I I 55 56 k i H 25 E L J 1 v Leonardws BY CM 21% July 27, 1943. L. F. CLERC I REFRiGERATED SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Aug. 23, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Figib.

I INVENTOR. Leonard C1erc AT ORNEY.

Patented July 27, 1943 'Leonard F. Clerc, Chicago, 111; v AppilicationjAugust 23, 1941, Serial No. 408,024 reclaims. v(o1. 6291.5)

This invention relates to refrigerated containersand particularly to containers in which frozen foods andother commodities'may be transported or stored in refrigerated condition.

An object of the invention is to'provide a light weight, inexpensive, shipping container which may be readily'collapsed'for return shipment or compact inactive storage, and onewhich may be quickly set up and'placed in refrigerated condition' for active service;

Another object of the invention is the provision of a container of the character referred to, which isfcon'structed with interchangeable members which may be readily replaced in the event of damage in transit.

A furthero-bject of the invention is the provision of a collapsible shipping container which is'adapted to employ dry ice as the refrigerating medium, the container being so constructed and arranged that the sublimation of the dry ice is regulated and temperature control is eifected.

. It'is an objectof the invention to provide a devicehaving self-contained refrigerating means, whereby less than car load lots of frozen foods and the like, may be shipped'and stored, independent of the usual large scale equipment heretofore required to' be employed for such purposes.

"Another object of the invention is theproVisiOnv of a device of the character referred to which is Ii assembled from disconnected sections or panels and held together by straps or other flexible elements, whereby varying degrees of air tightness may; be effected between the'several sections.

Another object of theinve'ntion is the provision of a" device of the character referred to which -may be employed as a container for shipping perishable merchandise to a destination point,

utilizing dry ice as the refrigerant enroute, and at the point of destination a portable mechanical refrigerating machine can be set in to replace the dry ice, and thedevice can then be employed indefinitely as a storage container. V

Theforegoing objectsand other advantages of the inventionwill appear as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawings, in which:

View of a device embody- Fig. 1 is a perspective ing-my invention. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation showing the device illustrated in. Fig. 1, with the side removed and the top and bottom shells in section.

Fig. 3 is averticalsection taken substantiallyon the line. 3-3 of Fig. 2. l

I Fig. 4 is a view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2. V I c Fig.5 is a view taken substantially on the line 5-5 or Fig. .2. b j Fig. 6 is an enlargedperspective view of one of the side walls of the device, with parts broken away to illustrate details of construction. i Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in section; taken'substantially on. the line. ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view of one of thefelt covered'co'ntrolled panels, shown on the bottom of the cooling compartment in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. 7

Fig. 9 is a' modified form of device illustrated in'Fig. 1, in which the front Wall member is made in two sections and the front flaps of the top and bottom shells are hinged, so that access may be readily had tothe interior of the device;

a perspective .view of a modified form Fig. 10 is of 'mydevice.

. I Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the dviceillus trated in Figfl, with parts broken away'and illustrating the manner in which a portable'mechanical refrigerating ,unit may be installed in place of dryice as the refrigerant.

Fig. 12 is a'view simila'r'jto the view shown in Fig. 4, with parts broken away and illustrating a modified form of mechanism for controlling the flow of air and gas in the device.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view, with parts broken.

away; showing another modifiedform of my device.

' Referring now'more particularly theldra'w i ings, it will be understood that in the embodiinentherein disclosed (Figs. 1 and 2), my im-' proved shipping container isjmade up'of side walls :2, end walls l3, top, bottom l5, top shell I6 and bottomshell l1, all of whichare constructed and assembled ashereinafter described. The shells l6 and I 1 are preferably provided with metal reinforcing corners Ilia. The side walls IZ (Fig.6) are preferably constructed of several thicknesses of heat insulating material includ ing an outside layer [8 of substantially hard fibrous material, such as fiber board or the like. Securedto the inside of the layer 18 by any suitable'means, such as gluing or the like, is a second section of insulating material H] which is as sembled in the following manner. Two U-shaped shells of corrugated cardboard 29 and 2! (Fig. 7)

are arranged to telescope one another with the corrugations of one shell running at right angles to the corrugations of the second shell, to effect a rigid construction} The void betweenthe shells 26 and ll is preferably filled With kapok 22 or other effective heat insulating medium. A third section 23 (Fig. 6) is secured to the intermediate section l9 by any suitable means. The section 23 is fabricated and constructed in the same manner as the section I9' hereinabove described. In order to increase the rigidity of the side Walls,

7 I provide reinforcing members 25a, which are preferably formed of a corrugated fiber board,

bent and rebent to form a plurality of tunnel i members as shown in Figs. 7 andf1 3} The tune nel members 21a of the section I9 are disposed in a vertical position, and the tunnel members 2la of, the section 23 are disposed in a horizontalposition. The sides of the tunnel members; ltd

are secured to the inside Walls iii'the shells 2| by The.

means of glue or other suitable means. voids of the tunnel membersil arefilled with kapok 22, or other effective heat insulatin'g' ma terial, as hereinabcve described. Secured to the. id 0? th walls. an like! m a s f apl 23'; or othersuita ble meansfis of.

Wint lii a he eries e of n Qi' the 1;;y'ers.

s. thei'wans:

i f 1. i bli at qpl i d c Wha h 1 used as the refrigerant capacities or? dry iceover, anunbelievablelen 'h' 0?. t me. Without'havins..te,r.eslcrt t9 ha' and clllrlbcrsbrrief hressure cbntrol ans, which de atLthep-ur T e struct ,farrangementfaijid niethqd ofassein'blin my. device enables me tol take, fdll f ad f s of 'a stilrdylightyveighti ship-f 't m me n w at e f ?a emb e. arranged; vis'. better illustrated. ln this vieyv wn,l be seen h ttle end-viral .f3gandthe side, W, 11.12am 'prcv with 'offsetfedgesf 32 which ga gegpn eianoth and bet veenwhich. are pqsi men a the gas ets 31'. I 'In'l this fview it iwillb fs fijfl that 'theldiitside ,layer.l5

k l rq riti eih f atifitg andstapled as at.351-. The

I is 1 01 s t'ii 5;

the back end member 53, and tie the device together horizontally. The top Is and bottom members l5 (Figs. and 3) of the container, are formed in much the same manner as are the side Walls l2 and 3 previously described. The top I4 and bottom E5 of the container (Fig. 2) are covered by means of shells Hi and I! (Fig. 1) whose edge overhang the sides I2 and ends I3, and extend toward each other as at 37, and are slotted as at 38;, and are provided with straps 39. The, straps and 39 are provided with friction buckles 40 with which they may be tightened to tie the parts together in varying degrees of compression.

The sidescfthe cooling or dry ice compartremovable liners M, which are constructed of the same. material and in the same manner as the Walls 12 and it. The floor 26 of the cooling compart'ment 2? is supported by the tunnels 25 (Figs. 3, n nd n vi sd th. Qawats. which omm nicat w th. th unne s. 25,- lo s. .3. re rmn. he lQH I; i e. i the qq 2. and extend beneath, the; liners. it and connect h cut-nuts. w th: t e n e m o th qmpar l o that t eQQa a m y b ca r d .4 1 0.- the. 'comp-artrnent 23, throughv,'the tunnels 25. In order to confirm; he fibmof' CQa S fromh QQmPat mnt 9. th flQm-lae mfii h. 1. m; videa novel means which consists. c'gf twoItelt sever d r p s. 4,4. F s-p 3 a d 8. which. e e

. p. nct e and. w ic ba ex e sq; HQ-

tunnels reinforce. the. shelt 3B, and. allow. the,

e c m a 'in n a n! F a. 9 l ll sr t a t. ma m d rm f. wam niwbi kx he. elt a l s iv deds. a 1 and hs s ms f he 11 .53 mt a hinges. as a her by west. a e. n adi vbe qh n di a the, interior.

. 1 ib l s a e a mpd fle i rm Q i' hiB ping containen in which I use aszthe; outer shell i .5 a dam m de? ny su tab emateri l, nd: which is sealed at the corners and providedtvith. c r ae ati abes and. hin ed; la s: 4:- Th n r mhe atten s; inl 'w n' emq ab a Wel hith re me a-acte n. h mann r he ln e e dew fll, aa i l u tratsdiini Rise. 6;

In i ll llustrate a. bip iW-Q nw ne sm le t hem 111 Seated a ts-{ min d m t heite at .1. l us rat h se I a, t ble. mtd ailifia r er ting. machin in.

pa y. cejas' a fifiaerant. nL I a.

wens previc-usly described: In this embodiment the rcference character E5-indicatesthe housing for the compressor and condenser oi -theme chanicalrefrigerating machine, which is posi-= tio-ned: on thetcp cfthe fiocr member frt; and

the reference character 56 indicates the-.heat

exchange-unit eithedevice. w-hich is suspended beneath the. floormember 53.. Thecompressords driven. by a. suitable.\ electric. mater. not. shown, which. is connected 2 by, leads; 5:1: to an outlet; 58

'. provided on the exteriorofithe;container:

position.

" In 'Ffig; 12, 1 illustrate a modified form of mechanism for controlling the'flow of CO2 gas- 25 aspreviously described. Superimposed on the fioor member 59 is a'fixed panel lifland two slidable panels 6| and 62. i The panels 5i and 62 are provided with cut-outs 63, which are adapted to communicate with the openings-in the tunnels 25. The slidable panels El and 62 are joined by means of a link 64 which is pivoted in the center as at 65 and slotted at the ends as at fi lajwhich slots are adapted to engage pins Ma an 62a. The link fi l maybe provided withpo'inters'ili, which are adaptedto co-operate with calibrations 67; whereby different degrees of'a'djustment of the panels GI and 82 ma be registered. The panel 60 ispreierably covered witlra heat insulating medium such as felt 60a. .Itw'ill be noted that the tunnels '25 positioned-at the ends remain open at all times, whereas the tunnels 25 positioned along the sides may be covered and uncovered by-means of'the slidable panels 6i and 62, whereby the flow of CO2 gas and air in the side tunnels 25 may be controlled to effect varying degrees o-f 'temperature in the storage compartment.

In Fig. 13, I illustrate another modified for'm of container which may be constructed in'general of three nesting cartons 68. 69 and '70; each of which is provided with a closed bottom and sealed corners. The outside carton 68. is preferably made of a' substantially stronger material than the interior cartons 69 and Hi. In some applif) cations it may be desiredfto have the exterior carton made ofa fireproof material. The intermediate carton St is preferably l in'ches smaller in all of itsdimensionsjthan the outside carton G8, and the inside carton i0 ,is correspondingly smaller than the intermediate carton B9.

interposed between the wallsof the carton 68 are reinforcing tunnel-like members II, which are formed as previously described. Theftunnellike members "H are preferably secured to the outside surfaces of the walls of the carton'69 in a similar manner. The tunnel" members H.

which are interposed between the wallsofthe cartons Edandfifi, are preferably'disposed: in a vertical position, whereas the tunnel members "ll interposed between the walls of thecartons 69 m and Iii, are preferably disposed in a horizontal This insuresa rigidconstruction for the device. The voids betweenthe wallsof the several cartons and the voids in the tunnels ,are.

filled with any. suitable heat. insulating .r'nate-j The tunnel members 25 are secured to the inthe bottom shell I1, and then introducing one end wall'l'3 and the side Wallsl2, leaving the second end wall l3 to be set in position after the shelf 39 is inserted. After the walls and the shelf 30 are in position, the horizontal straps 36 are made fast and the container is ready to be loaded with frozen foods or other perishable commodities.

When the storage compartment is sufliciently filled, the floor 26 of thecooling compartment and the'control panels 44 are then placed in position on the tunnel members 25. then set in place and the control panels are ad justed to the proper position to effect the desired temperature control in the storage compartment. The device is now ready for the dry ice or'other refrigerant. When the container is charged with the'proper amount of refrigerant, the top member- [4 is set in position and the top shell 16 is set in place, the vertical'straps 39 are then made fast and the device is ready for shipping.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is;

15A refrigerating container for the shipment and storage of frozen foods and the like, com

prising individual heat insulated wall arranged in contacting relation with one another and defining a compartment adapted to hold dry ice and a storage compartment in communic'ationwith the dry ice compartment, the adjacent edges of the walls being separated by compressible sealing elements.

2. A refrigerating container for the shipment and storage of frozen foods and the like, comprising individual heat insulated walls arranged in contacting relation with one another and de fining a compartment adapted to hold dry ice and astorage compartment in communication with the dry ice compartment, the adjacent edges of the walls being provided with compressible sealing elements, there being means on the outside of and storage of frozen foods and the like, comprising individual heat insulated walls arranged in contacting relation with one another and dc-f fining a compartment adapted to hold dry ice and a storage compartment in communication with the dry ice compartment, top and bottom cap-like"rn'embers comprising end closures for said container, and flexibleelements for holding the walls and cap-like members in assembled relation.

'4. A refri geratin'g container for the shipment and storage of frozen foods and the like, comprising individual heat insulated walls arranged in contacting relation with one another and defining a compartment adapted to hold dry ice and a storage compartment in communication with the dry ice compartment, the side walls being provided with vertically disposed reinforcing elements which are secured to the inside thereof and form passageways which communicate between The liners 41 are 

